Dust collection systems and attachments for circular saws

ABSTRACT

A dust collection system for a circular saw may include an attachment. A fixed blade guard may define an exhaust port for removing debris drawn into the fixed blade guard. An attachment may be positioned adjacent to a fixed blade guard in fluid communication with an interior of the fixed blade guard through an aperture, where the attachment defines an exhaust port. An exhaust port can extend into fluid communication with a cavity formed by a protrusion, where the cavity has an expanded interior volume extending from and adjacent to the exhaust port. A channel defined by a connection configured for connecting to a vacuum source is in fluid communication with the expanded interior volume of the cavity through the exhaust port for pulling debris from within the fixed blade guard into the cavity and through the exhaust port and the channel toward the vacuum source.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/505,866, filed Jul. 9, 2019, and titled“DUST COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND ATTACHMENTS FOR CIRCULAR SAWS,” whichitself claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/695,296, filed Jul. 9, 2018, and titled “DUSTCOLLECTION SYSTEMS AND ATTACHMENTS FOR CIRCULAR SAWS.” U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/505,866 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/695,296 are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Circular saws use toothed or abrasive discs or to cut material using arotary motion, e.g., where a disc or blade spins about an arbor.

DRAWINGS

The Detailed Description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances inthe description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a dust collection systemincluding an attachment for a fixed blade guard of a circular saw inaccordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is another isometric view of the dust collection systemillustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the dust collection systemillustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the dust collection systemillustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side elevation view of the dustcollection system illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional isometric view of the dustcollection system illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the dust collection systemillustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8 is a top plan view illustrating an attachment for a dustcollection system for a circular saw, such as the dust collection systemillustrated in FIG. 1 , in accordance with an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the attachment illustrated in FIG. 8 .

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the attachment illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is another side elevation view of the attachment illustrated inFIG. 8 .

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the attachment illustrated in FIG.8 .

FIG. 13 is a rear elevation view of the attachment illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the attachment illustrated in FIG. 8 .

FIG. 15 is another isometric view of the attachment illustrated in FIG.8 .

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view illustrating a blade guard extender fora dust collection system for a circular saw, such as the dust collectionsystem illustrated in FIG. 1 , in accordance with an example embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a front elevation view of the blade guard extenderillustrated in FIG. 16 .

FIG. 18 is an isometric view illustrating a dust collection systemincluding a fixed blade guard for a circular saw in accordance with anexample embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is another isometric view of the dust collection systemillustrated in FIG. 18 .

FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the dust collection systemillustrated in FIG. 18 .

FIG. 21 is a partial cross-sectional side elevation view of the dustcollection system illustrated in FIG. 18 .

FIG. 22 is a partial cross-sectional isometric view of the dustcollection system illustrated in FIG. 18 .

FIG. 23 is a front elevation view of the dust collection systemillustrated in FIG. 18 .

FIG. 24 is a top plan view illustrating a fixed blade guard for a dustcollection system for a circular saw, such as the dust collection systemillustrated in FIG. 18 , in accordance with an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a bottom plan view of the fixed blade guard illustrated inFIG. 24 .

FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of the fixed blade guard illustrated inFIG. 24 .

FIG. 27 is another side elevation view of the fixed blade guardillustrated in FIG. 24 .

FIG. 28 is a front elevation view of the fixed blade guard illustratedin FIG. 24 .

FIG. 29 is a rear elevation view of the fixed blade guard illustrated inFIG. 24 .

FIG. 30 is an isometric view of the fixed blade guard illustrated inFIG. 24 .

FIG. 31 is another isometric view of the fixed blade guard illustratedin FIG. 24 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Circular saws 100 use toothed or abrasive discs or blades 102 to cutmaterial using a rotary motion, e.g., where a disc or blade spins aboutan arbor. In operation, material to be cut is securely held in place,and the saw blade 102 is moved across the material and/or into thematerial. In the case of a toothed blade 102, as each tooth 104 impactsthe material to be cut, a small chip is created, which is then removedfrom the material by the teeth 104. In general, a circular saw 100 cangenerate a significant amount of dust and/or debris as material is cut.

Circular saw blades 102 can be driven by various arrangements of motorsand gears. One type of circular saw 100 is a worm-drive circular saw100, where perpendicularly mounted worm gears indirectly drive a sawblade 102 from a motor 106 mounted out of line with (e.g., perpendicularto) the saw's arbor mount 130. In a worm-drive saw arrangement, theremay be limited space for dust and debris collection hardware. Forexample, the motor 106 may be immediately adjacent to a fixed bladeguard 108 on one side of the blade 102, while mounting hardware forallowing the angle of the blade 102 to be changed with respect to a baseplate 110 may be immediately adjacent to the fixed blade guard 108 onthe other side of the blade 102. Additionally, a table guide mayobstruct access to the fixed blade guard 108 from the rear of the saw(e.g., proximate to the motor 106).

The fixed blade guard 108 may be used with a moveable blade guard 112,where the two guards 108 and 112 cover the blade. Typically, the fixedblade guard 108 is rigidly attached to the motor 106 and a handle 114,while the moveable blade guard 112 can rotate about the center of theblade 102 and is normally held in an extended (e.g., lower) coveringposition by a biasing device, such as a spring. The moveable blade guard112 fits within the fixed blade guard 108 and can be rotated into aretracted (e.g., upper) position within the fixed blade guard 108 toallow the circular saw 100 to be employed for cutting material.

As described herein, systems and apparatus for extracting dust anddebris can be used with various circular saws 100. With reference toFIGS. 1 through 17 , a dust collection system 200 can include anattachment 202 for a fixed blade guard 108 of a worm-drive circular saw100. The attachment 202 can be configured to be positioned (e.g.,mounted) adjacent to the fixed blade guard 108 in fluid communicationwith an interior 116 (FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of the fixed blade guard 108through an aperture 118 (FIG. 3 ) defined through the fixed blade guard108. The aperture 118 may be formed by removing material 120 (FIG. 3 )from the fixed blade guard 108 (e.g., by machining or cutting throughthe fixed blade guard 108). In embodiments of the disclosure, theattachment 202 can be fixedly connected to the fixed blade guard 108using various mounting hardware (e.g., screws 122, bolts, rivets, etc.).For example, the attachment 202 may include tabs for receiving thescrews 122.

The attachment 202 may include a mounting base 204 having an arcuateprofile (e.g., an arcuate top profile 206) configured to be at leastgenerally aligned with a top profile 124 of the fixed blade guard 108.The mounting base 204 includes a side 208 extending generallyperpendicularly with respect to the arcuate top profile 206, and themounting base 204 defines an exhaust port 210 for removing debris (e.g.,dust, chips) drawn into the fixed blade guard 108. The mounting base 204can be sized to completely cover the aperture 118 defined through thefixed blade guard 108 (e.g., the attachment 202 may be oversized withrespect to the aperture 118).

A template (not shown) may be included with an attachment 202 toindicate how much of a fixed blade guard 108 is to be removed to form anaperture 118 sized and positioned appropriately for the attachment 202.The template may be shaped for one or more specific circular saw modelsto appropriately position the aperture 118. For example, the templatecan be designed to fill available space near a fixed blade guard 108,butting up to the edges of various obstructions near the fixed bladeguard 108. The template may include one or more cutout shapes and/orholes as an indication of where and how much of the fixed blade guard108 to remove.

In some embodiments, an attachment 202 can be used with an adapter(e.g., a gasket). For example, the attachment 202 can have atransitional profile between the arcuate top profile 206 and the side208 of the mounting base 204 that is curved (e.g., for attachment to acircular saw 100 having a generally semi-circular cross-sectional topprofile 124. However, another circular saw may have a more square-shapedcross-sectional top profile. In this instance, an adapter such as agasket (e.g., a foam gasket) and/or another universal adapter may beused to secure the attachment 202 around the aperture 118 definedthrough the fixed blade guard 108 and prevent airflow through the seambetween the attachment 202 and the fixed blade guard 108.

In some embodiments, an adapter specific to the shape of adifferently-shaped cross-sectional profile may also be used to fill orreduce gaps between one (e.g., a rounded) cross-sectional profile of amounting base 204 and another (e.g., a square) cross-sectional profileof a fixed blade guard 108. Further, it should be noted that a sealant(e.g., caulk or another sealant) may be used to fill or seal gapsbetween adjacent components, including, but not necessarily limited to,gaps between the attachment 202 and the fixed blade guard 108, betweenthe attachment 202 and an intermediate gasket, between an intermediategasket and the fixed blade guard 108, and so forth.

In embodiments of the disclosure, the exhaust port 210 extends throughthe side 208 of the mounting base 204 and into fluid communication witha cavity 212 defined by the mounting base 204. The cavity 212 is formedby a protrusion 214 of the arcuate top profile 206, and the cavity 212has an expanded interior volume 216 extending from and adjacent to theexhaust port 210. As described herein, the protrusion 214 of the arcuatetop profile 206 can have a rounded profile configured to minimizeobstruction of an operator's vision when using the circular saw 100.

In some embodiments, a dust collection system 200 may also include achannel 218 in fluid communication with the expanded interior volume 216of the cavity 212 through the exhaust port 210, where the channel 218 isdefined by a connection 220 configured for connecting to a vacuum source(not shown) for pulling debris from within the fixed blade guard 108into the cavity 212 and through the exhaust port 210 and the channel 218toward the vacuum source. The connection 220 can be configured (e.g.,sized) for connecting to, for example, a one and one-quarter inch (1-¼″)diameter tube of the vacuum source (e.g. a vacuum hose 126). However,other vacuum tube and/or hose diameters may also be used, including, butnot necessarily limited to: three-quarters of an inch (¾″) diameterhoses, one-inch (1″) diameter hoses, and so forth. A vacuum hose 126 maybe rigid and/or flexible.

A cap (not shown) may be placed on the connection 220 to block the flowof dust and debris from the exhaust port 210, e.g., when the connection220 is not connected to a tube or hose. In some embodiments, the vacuumhose 126 can be sized to extend through the handle 114 and be positionedto one side of the handle 114 to minimized obstruction of an operator'sgrip on the handle 114. However, in other embodiments, one or more hooksand/or clips on a side of the circular saw 100 can be used to hold thevacuum hose 126 in place. Further, a coupling, such as a plastic ring ora looped metal strip attached to a side of the circular saw 100 may beused to hold the vacuum hose 126 in place. In some embodiments, thecircular saw 100 may also include a hook, loop, clip, or another holderintegrally formed as part of and/or connected to a handle 114 (e.g., toone side of the handle 114).

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory or principle ofoperations, it is believed that the expansion of the expanded interiorvolume 216 adjacent to the exhaust port 210 creates additional volumewhere dust and debris may collect prior to being drawn into the channel218 and the vacuum hose 126 through the exhaust port 210. Thisarrangement may thus reduce or minimize the flow of the dust and debrisfrom out of the fixed blade guard 108 and into the surroundingenvironment, as more dust and debris is pulled into the vacuum hose 126.It is also believed that the speed at which an abrasive disc or blade102 is driven (e.g., by the motor 106) affects the ability of a circularsaw 100 to effectively collect dust and debris. For example, in someembodiments the rotational speed of a disc or blade 102 is between aboutthree thousand five hundred (3,500) revolutions per minute (RPM) andabout four thousand five hundred (4,500) RPM. However, this range isprovided by way of example and is not meant to limit the presentdisclosure. In other embodiments, the rotational speed at which a discor blade 102 is driven may be less than about three thousand fivehundred (3,500) RPM and/or greater than about four thousand five hundred(4,500) RPM. For instance, the rotational speed at which a disc or blade102 is driven may be as much as about five thousand three hundred(5,300) RPM.

It should be noted that positioning the exhaust port 210 closer to thefront of the circular saw 100 and positioning the expansion portion ofthe expanded interior volume 216 extending in a direction away from thefront of the circular saw 100 may further enhance the drawing of dustand debris into the channel 218 and the vacuum hose 126 through theexhaust port 210 (e.g., by shortening the distance between the front ofthe circular saw 100 where the blade 102 impacts material to be cut andthe exhaust port 210). However, it should be noted that in otherembodiments, the expanded interior volume 216 may also extend in adirection toward the front of the circular saw 100 instead of, or inaddition to, extending away from the front of the circular saw 100(e.g., as described with reference to FIGS. 18 through 31 ).

The dust collection system 200 may also include a blade guard extender222 or another tunnel extender disposed at an end 128 of the fixed bladeguard 108 and configured to extend the interior 116 of the fixed bladeguard 108 in a direction away from the attachment 202 to enhance thepulling of the debris from within the fixed blade guard 108 into thecavity 212 of the attachment 202. In embodiments of the disclosure, theblade guard extender 222 may be formed from a flexible or viscoelasticmaterial, such as rubber or a rubber-like solid (e.g., an elasticpolymer, elastomer). In this manner, the blade guard extender 222 may beused with a circular saw 100 that allows the angle of the blade 102 tobe changed with respect to the base plate 110, such as aforty-five-degree (45°) bevel table. Further, when viewed from the end128 of the circular saw 100, the blade guard extender 222 may itself beangled at about forty-five degrees (45°) or another angle with respectto the horizontal. In embodiments of the disclosure, the blade guardextender 222 can be fixedly connected to the fixed blade guard 108 usingvarious mounting hardware (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets, etc.).

Referring now to FIGS. 18 through 31 , a dust collection system 300 caninclude a fixed blade guard 302 for a worn-drive circular saw 100. Thefixed blade guard 302 can be positioned immediately adjacent to themotor 106 on one side of the blade 102, while mounting hardware forallowing the angle of the blade 102 to be changed with respect to thebase plate 110 may be immediately adjacent to the fixed blade guard 108on the other side of the blade 102. The fixed blade guard 302 can definean interior 304 (FIGS. 21 and 22 ). In embodiments of the disclosure,the fixed blade guard 302 can be fixedly connected to the circular saw100 using various mounting hardware (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets, etc.).

The fixed blade guard 302 may have an arcuate profile (e.g., an arcuatetop profile 306). The fixed blade guard 302 includes a side 308extending generally perpendicularly with respect to the arcuate topprofile 306, and the fixed blade guard 302 defines an exhaust port 310for removing debris (e.g., dust, chips) drawn into the fixed blade guard302. In embodiments of the disclosure, the exhaust port 310 extendsthrough the side 308 of the fixed blade guard 302 and into fluidcommunication with a cavity 312 defined by the fixed blade guard 302.The cavity 312 is formed by a protrusion 314 of the arcuate top profile306, and the cavity 312 has an expanded interior volume 316 extendingfrom and adjacent to the exhaust port 310. As described herein, theprotrusion 314 of the arcuate top profile 306 can have a rounded profileconfigured to minimize obstruction of an operator's vision when usingthe circular saw 100.

In some embodiments, a dust collection system 300 may also include achannel 318 in fluid communication with the expanded interior volume 316of the cavity 312 through the exhaust port 310, where the channel 318 isdefined by a connection 320 configured for connecting to a vacuum source(not shown) for pulling debris from within the fixed blade guard 302into the cavity 312 and through the exhaust port 310 and the channel 318toward the vacuum source. The connection 320 can be configured (e.g.,sized) for connecting to, for example, a one and one-quarter inch (1-¼″)diameter tube of the vacuum source (e.g., a vacuum hose 126). However,other vacuum tube and/or hose diameters may also be used, including, butnot necessarily limited to: three-quarters of an inch (¾″) diameterhoses, one-inch (1″) diameter hoses, and so forth. A vacuum hose 126 maybe rigid and/or flexible.

In some embodiments, the connection 320 may transition from a generallyelliptical profile 322 proximate to the guard portion of the fixed bladeguard 302 to a generally circular profile 324 at the connection to thevacuum hose 126. A cap (not shown) may be placed on the connection 320to block the flow of dust and debris from the exhaust port 310, e.g.,when the connection 320 is not connected to a tube or hose. In someembodiments, the vacuum hose 126 can be sized to extend through thehandle 114 and be positioned to one side of the handle 114 to minimizedobstruction of an operator's grip on the handle 114. However, in otherembodiments, one or more hooks and/or clips on a side of the circularsaw 100 can be used to hold the vacuum hose 126 in place. Further, acoupling, such as a plastic ring or a looped metal strip attached to aside of the circular saw 100 may be used to hold the vacuum hose 126 inplace. In some embodiments, the circular saw 100 may also include ahook, loop, clip, or another holder integrally formed as part of and/orconnected to a handle 114 (e.g., to one side of the handle 114).

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory or principle ofoperations, it is believed that the expansion of the expanded interiorvolume 316 adjacent to the exhaust port 310 creates additional volumewhere dust and debris may collect prior to being drawn into the channel318 and the vacuum hose 126 through the exhaust port 310. Thisarrangement may thus reduce or minimize the flow of the dust and debrisfrom out of the fixed blade guard 308 and into the surroundingenvironment, as more dust and debris is pulled into the vacuum hose 126.It should be noted that in other embodiments, the expanded interiorvolume 316 may extend in a direction toward the front of the circularsaw 100, away from the front of the circular saw 100 (e.g., as describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 through 17 ), and so forth.

The dust collection system 300 may also include a blade guard extender(e.g. as described with reference to FIG. 1 through 17 ) or anothertunnel extender disposed at an end 128 of the fixed blade guard 302 andconfigured to extend the interior 304 of the fixed blade guard 302 toenhance the pulling of the debris from within the fixed blade guard 302into the cavity 312 of the fixed blade guard 302. Further, the end 128of the fixed blade guard 302 may be extended closer to the base plate110 and/or angled (e.g., in a similar manner as the blade guard extender222).

In some embodiments, the dust collection system 300 can include adivider 324 disposed within the fixed blade guard 302 and extending fromproximate to the exhaust port 310 in a direction away from the exhaustport 310 toward the front of the circular saw 100 to enhance the pullingof debris from within the fixed blade guard 302 into the cavity 312. Thedivider 324 can be configured to be out of the path of the moveableblade guard 112 as it rotates about the center of the blade 102. Thedivider 324 may extend from proximate to the front of the circular saw100 and terminate proximate to the exhaust port 310 (e.g., as describedwith reference to FIGS. 21 and 22 ), and it may span the width betweenopposing sides of the fixed blade guard 302. In some embodiments, thedivider 324 may extend to encompass both sides of the expanded interiorvolume 316 adjacent of the exhaust port 310. The divider may beintegrally formed with the fixed blade guard 302 (e.g., molded,co-molded) and/or may be formed as a separate part (e.g., an insert)added to the fixed blade guard 302.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or process operations, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A worm-drive circular saw comprising: an arbormount for receiving a circular saw blade; a motor mounted at leastsubstantially perpendicular to the arbor; a fixed blade guard having anarcuate profile and a side extending at least substantiallyperpendicularly with respect to the arcuate profile on the same side ofthe circular saw blade as the motor, the fixed blade guard defining anexhaust port for removing debris drawn into the fixed blade guard, theexhaust port extending through the side of the fixed blade guard on thesame side of the circular saw blade as the motor and into fluidcommunication with a cavity defined by the fixed blade guard, the cavityformed by a protrusion of the arcuate profile away from the arbor mountand the circular saw blade, the cavity having an expanded interiorvolume extending from and adjacent to the exhaust port; and a channel influid communication with the expanded interior volume of the cavitythrough the exhaust port, the channel defined by a connection extendingat least substantially parallel to the arbor on the same side of thecircular saw blade as the motor, the connection configured forconnecting to a vacuum source for pulling debris from within the fixedblade guard into the cavity and through the exhaust port and the channeltoward the vacuum source.
 2. The worm-drive circular saw as recited inclaim 1, further comprising a divider disposed within the fixed bladeguard and extending from proximate to the exhaust port in a directionaway from the exhaust port to enhance the pulling of the debris fromwithin the fixed blade guard into the cavity.
 3. The worm-drive circularsaw as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tube of the vacuumsource connected to the connection, the tube configured to extendthrough a handle of the worm-drive circular saw.
 4. The worm-drivecircular saw as recited in claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a roundedprofile configured to minimize obstruction of an operator's vision whenusing the worm-drive circular saw.
 5. The worm-drive circular saw asrecited in claim 1, wherein the expanded interior volume adjacent to theexhaust port is configured to extend in a direction away from a front ofthe worm-drive circular saw.
 6. The worm-drive circular saw as recitedin claim 1, wherein the connection transitions from an at leastsubstantially elliptical profile proximal to the fixed blade guard to anat least substantially circular profile distal to the fixed blade guard.7. A worm-drive circular saw comprising: an arbor mount for receiving acircular saw blade; a motor mounted at least substantially perpendicularto the arbor; a fixed blade guard having an arcuate profile withopposing first and second ends and a side surface extending at leastsubstantially perpendicularly with respect to the arcuate profile on thesame side of the circular saw blade as the motor along a longitudinalaxis of the fixed blade guard between the opposing first and secondends, the fixed blade guard defining an exhaust port for removing debrisdrawn into the fixed blade guard, the exhaust port extending through theside of the fixed blade guard on the same side of the circular saw bladeas the motor and into fluid communication with a cavity defined by thefixed blade guard, the cavity extending between the opposing first andsecond ends and along the longitudinal axis of the fixed blade guard,the cavity formed by a protrusion of the arcuate profile away from thearbor mount and the circular saw blade, the cavity having an expandedinterior volume extending from and adjacent to the exhaust port; and achannel in fluid communication with the expanded interior volume of thecavity through the exhaust port, the channel extending from the sidesurface at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe fixed blade guard, the channel defined by a connection extending atleast substantially parallel to the arbor on the same side of thecircular saw blade as the motor, the connection configured forconnecting to a vacuum source for pulling debris from within the fixedblade guard into the cavity and through the exhaust port and the channeltoward the vacuum source.
 8. The worm-drive circular saw as recited inclaim 7, further comprising a divider disposed within the fixed bladeguard and extending from proximate to the exhaust port in a directionaway from the exhaust port to enhance the pulling of the debris fromwithin the fixed blade guard into the cavity.
 9. The worm-drive circularsaw as recited in claim 7, further comprising a tube of the vacuumsource connected to the connection, the tube configured to extendthrough a handle of the worm-drive circular saw.
 10. The worm-drivecircular saw as recited in claim 7, wherein the protrusion has a roundedprofile configured to minimize obstruction of an operator's vision whenusing the worm-drive circular saw.
 11. The worm-drive circular saw asrecited in claim 7, wherein the expanded interior volume adjacent to theexhaust port is configured to extend in a direction away from a front ofthe worm-drive circular saw.
 12. The worm-drive circular saw as recitedin claim 7, wherein the connection transitions from an at leastsubstantially elliptical profile proximal to the fixed blade guard to anat least substantially circular profile distal to the fixed blade guard.13. A worm-drive circular saw comprising: an arbor mount for receiving acircular saw blade; a motor mounted at least substantially perpendicularto the arbor; a fixed blade guard having an arcuate profile withopposing first and second ends and a side surface extending at leastsubstantially perpendicularly with respect to the arcuate profile on thesame side of the circular saw blade as the motor along a longitudinalaxis of the fixed blade guard between the opposing first and secondends, the fixed blade guard defining an exhaust port for removing debrisdrawn into the fixed blade guard, the exhaust port extending through theside of the fixed blade guard on the same side of the circular saw bladeas the motor and into fluid communication with a cavity defined by thefixed blade guard, the cavity extending between the opposing first andsecond ends and along the longitudinal axis of the fixed blade guard,the cavity formed by a protrusion of the arcuate profile away from thearbor mount and the circular saw blade, the cavity having an expandedinterior volume extending from and adjacent to the exhaust port; achannel in fluid communication with the expanded interior volume of thecavity through the exhaust port, the channel extending from the sidesurface at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe fixed blade guard, the channel defined by a connection extending atleast substantially parallel to the arbor on the same side of thecircular saw blade as the motor, the connection configured forconnecting to a vacuum source for pulling debris from within the fixedblade guard into the cavity and through the exhaust port and the channeltoward the vacuum source; and a divider disposed within the fixed bladeguard and extending from proximate to the exhaust port in a directionaway from the exhaust port to enhance the pulling of the debris fromwithin the fixed blade guard into the cavity.
 14. The worm-drivecircular saw as recited in claim 13, further comprising a tube of thevacuum source connected to the connection, the tube configured to extendthrough a handle of the worm-drive circular saw.
 15. The worm-drivecircular saw as recited in claim 13, wherein the protrusion has arounded profile configured to minimize obstruction of an operator'svision when using the worm-drive circular saw.
 16. The worm-drivecircular saw as recited in claim 13, wherein the expanded interiorvolume adjacent to the exhaust port is configured to extend in adirection away from a front of the worm-drive circular saw.
 17. Theworm-drive circular saw as recited in claim 13, wherein the connectiontransitions from an at least substantially elliptical profile proximalto the fixed blade guard to an at least substantially circular profiledistal to the fixed blade guard.